If you want to be part of the solution to the busy summer on Winni, Canada is giving away free lock passes all year to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Parks Canada. I just ordered mine here:
http://www.commandesparcs-parksorder...atalogId=53407
We are planning a 2ish week, 450ish mile, loop cruise from 1000 Islands to Ottowa (via Rideau Canal), to Montreal (via Ottowa River), to 1000 Islands (via St Lawrence River) this Summer. 1000 Islands is only 7 easy driving hours from Gilford.
Canada and NY are quite boater-friendly and offer countless options for public overnight dockage, moorage, and legal overnight anchoring.
The lock passes are normally very expensive and I expect to pay for gas for my entire cruise with the savings.